Published 5:23 pm, Thursday, February 21, 2013

There were people everywhere in the great Rose Main Reading Room of one of the greatest structures in the world, doing what they normally do in libraries: reading, studying, working on laptops, writing, researching. I'm staring at the ceiling.

This ceiling — 52 feet above the long oak tables — in the Stephen A. Schwarzman building is something you really should see before you die. Actually, it might be the thing you do see when you die. It's that astounding, with its cloud and sky murals. And it's a soothing way to rest your eyes during a day of work. But I wasn't there to work.

I drop into the century-old main library from time to time when the city becomes a bit too much, and I need a quiet spot. Sometimes I read or work. Sometimes I just sit and take it all in.

The library is a Beaux Arts architectural jewel and even a movie star, but mostly it's a temple to books. The Reading Room — an architectural feat in that it's almost the size of a football field without any columns — sits on top of seven stories of books that researchers can request be sent up.

The New York Public Library's plan to renovate has drawn a lot of criticism. Architectural historians, critics, researchers and writers have lambasted the plan, saying it resembled Starbucks and a suburban mall. The plan calls for two nearby libraries to be absorbed into the main library. The seven stories of stacks would be placed in temperature-controlled storage areas below Bryant Park, and a public circulating area would be created. The library contends that the renovation will double the amount of public space in the building, better preserve its research material and create a central library "serving all people, from scholars and students to toddlers and teens."

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The Reading Room is to remain as is, thankfully.

In front of me, there was one of those famous Reading Room lamps, designed by Carrere and Hastings, the landmark building's architects.

You've seen them: brass, elegant and on every one of the 42 oak tables.

Even if you've never been to the New York Public Library, you undoubtedly caught one of the movies or TV shows that have filmed in this great room. I cringed during the scenes in "The Day After Tomorrow" when the characters were debating whether they should burn Nietzsche to keep warm during an Ice Age-caliber megastorm. Then one of the characters pointed out the rows of tax law books.

I was there just before Christmas. Zoe, my daughter, and her Texan friend, Maddie, wanted to see the Rockefeller Center tree and shop. After we checked out the tree and I introduced Maddie to a knish, I sent them on to their shopping excursion. There were thousands of people dressed up as Santa roaming the city as part of Santacon — yet another reason for me to hightail it to Fifth Avenue and 42nd street. (The Santas were actually pretty funny, and the event raised money for Toys for Tots and canned donations to food banks.)

I made straight for the Reading Room, where I caught my breath and stared at the ceiling.

After a while, I wandered around and checked out the exhibits. That day there was an architecture photography display, an exhibit of Charles Dickens items from the library's collections and an exhibit on lunch in New York City, which included a hot dog truck, a section of an Automat, the story of hot pretzels and a history of school lunches, as well as memorabilia from some of the city's hottest eateries, like caricatures from Sardi's.

A happy discovery a number of years ago was that there are always a few exhibits to see without the crowds of New York's big museums. And if you're crowd-shy like me, it's a refuge. It's also free, but donate something if you can because it's a nonprofit. "Daring Methods: The Prints of Mary Cassatt" will open March 8 and run through June 23.

I browsed the shop — paydirt for bibliophiles — with lion bookends, a selection of books and cards, and other literary treasures.

I eavesdropped on a tour. The guide talked about the collection of Shelley ephemera — Percy and Mary.

I wandered into the children's section. There was a storyteller in one room cracking kids up. And then I paid homage to the original Pooh, who sat with Eeyore, Piglet, Tigger and Kanga in a glass case and were owned by the real Christopher Robin. These are the toys that inspired Christopher Robin's father A.A. Milne to create "Winnie-the-Pooh."

I watched some guys use a helium tank to blow up dozens of white balloons for some event.

Then I left the library, stopping just long enough to look at the lovely display of vintage New Year's postcards. On the steps, I said goodbye to Patience and Fortitude, the famous lions, even though a Santacon Santa was riding one of them.

I took a deep breath and headed toward Times Square to meet up with the girls.